THREAD
1- When we marvel or roll our eyes at Trump supporters, we're often asking the wrong question. Instead of asking: "How can they believe this nonsense?" Better we ask: "What do they get out of being part of Trumpism that makes them so willing to suppress reasoned thought?"
1- When we marvel or roll our eyes at Trump supporters, we're often asking the wrong question. Instead of asking: "How can they believe this nonsense?" Better we ask: "What do they get out of being part of Trumpism that makes them so willing to suppress reasoned thought?"
2- There are a lot of answers to the question of what they get out of Trumpism. First and foremost is "the need to belong." They can dislike and defy the same people, share common grievances, do stuff TOGETHER. It's a brotherhood of purpose. It's easier to "believe" than think!
3 - We're often asked if Trumpism is a cult. The short answer: YES, it is. A cult is defined by an unusual, unwavering interest or belief in a particular personality or goal, where devotion transcends reasoned thought. And when you do that, you transcend science, math, and facts
4 - But here's an important point: Trumpism changed. It's no longer a "Cult of Personality," about a man. It's about tribal contrarianism. The goal: TO WIN (and "own the libs"). When Trump himself got booed for advocating vaccines, we first saw signs of a cult outgrowing the man.
5 - Trumpism has become a full-on apparatus. Enablers. Amplifiers. Fox News. Talk radio. Right wing podcasts. Performative elected officials. Foreign actors, like Putin. It's spread like a plague to many millions of our most susceptible. The fearmongering alone is relentless.
6 - Culture wars. Nationalism. Demonization. Xenophobia. Perversion of words. (Does any Trump cultist understand the actual meaning of the word "evidence"?). Total politicization of EVERY issue. Lies that are shameless. In an echo chamber; with mass repetition. This - is TRUMPISM
7 - The future of OUR democracy will unfold before and during our midterm elections. We MUST not only be more plentiful at the polls, but we MUST be smarter in understanding what Trumpism is, and how to defeat it.
8 - For democracy to prevail, enough TRUTH must prevail! This IS the bottom line.
What the Jan 6th Committee is doing, is EXACTLY what we need. But we also need to PLAY THE MATH. Not all our citizens are political creatures. Not all Republicans are racist, rabid, or ridiculous.
What the Jan 6th Committee is doing, is EXACTLY what we need. But we also need to PLAY THE MATH. Not all our citizens are political creatures. Not all Republicans are racist, rabid, or ridiculous.
9 - SPREAD THE WORD; get everyone you know to watch the next hearing, and to watch clips from the first ones. Left, right, and middle. How? Do it smartly. Use psychology. Don’t insult them. And don’t expect to “close” them. Just make a compelling argument and leave it be. END
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